GigaOm: TechCrunch selling to AOL

Nice scoop — if it’s true — by GigaOM: AOL is close to buying TechCrunch. An excerpt:

The deal is at a sensitive stage and might fall apart yet, but I don’t think so. Sources familiar with both entities says that the announcement is likely to come onstage at Disrupt, TechCrunch’s flagship conference currently underway in San Francisco.

There’s been speculation that TechCrunch was on the block since founder Michael Arrington announced in May that he had moved to Seattle. Not only is the city closer to his parents in the Anacortes area, it’s also in a state that doesn’t have an income tax, for the time being.

Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest. Send tips or comments to bdudley@seattletimes.com. His column runs Monday, and his commentary appears here all week.